Letters to the Editor: Reforms to citizenship should strike a balance

'Citizenship is more than a legal status. It carries rights, responsibilities, and a permanent place within the national community'

'Citizenship should neither be handed out automatically nor placed beyond the reach of those who have built their lives here.' Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty

Recent reports that the Government is considering reforms to Ireland’s citizenship laws have reignited an important debate about what Irish citizenship should represent in the 21st century.

At present, most applicants for naturalisation can apply after five years of reckonable residence within the previous nine years, including one year of continuous residence immediately before application.